Kestra Investment Management LLC Makes New $59,000 Investment in Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS)

Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm bought 340 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $59,000.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of DFS. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors bought a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $351,766,000. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Discover Financial Services by 8.0% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 7,493,862 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,051,314,000 after purchasing an additional 558,227 shares during the last quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Discover Financial Services by 1,272.0% in the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 265,155 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $37,199,000 after purchasing an additional 245,829 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC bought a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,067,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Discover Financial Services in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $21,169,000. Institutional investors own 86.94% of the company’s stock.

Discover Financial Services Stock Down 2.8 %

Shares of DFS stock opened at $194.21 on Friday. Discover Financial Services has a 1 year low of $118.74 and a 1 year high of $205.76. The stock has a market cap of $48.81 billion, a PE ratio of 12.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.46. The business’s fifty day moving average is $186.87 and its 200-day moving average is $162.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.09.

Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 22nd. The financial services provider reported $5.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.13 by $1.98. Discover Financial Services had a return on equity of 26.18% and a net margin of 17.29%. Equities analysts expect that Discover Financial Services will post 13.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Discover Financial Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be issued a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 23rd. Discover Financial Services’s payout ratio is 17.54%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

DFS has been the topic of several recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Discover Financial Services from $146.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Discover Financial Services from $193.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on Discover Financial Services from $156.00 to $163.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. UBS Group raised Discover Financial Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $150.00 to $239.00 in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on Discover Financial Services from $170.00 to $232.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $186.46.

About Discover Financial Services

Discover Financial Services, through its subsidiaries, provides digital banking products and services, and payment services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Digital Banking and Payment Services. The Digital Banking segment offers Discover-branded credit cards to individuals; personal loans, home loans, and other consumer lending; and direct-to-consumer deposit products comprising savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, IRA certificates of deposit, IRA savings accounts and checking accounts, and sweep accounts.